Diversify leaves no doubt in Suburban

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Rick Violette instructed jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. prior to Saturday’s $700,000 Suburban at Belmont Park to be aggressive with Diversify right from the start. The meet’s leading rider followed the plan to perfection, guiding Diversify to a wire-to-wire, eye-catching, 6 1/2-length victory over 34-1 outsider The Lieutenant in the Grade 2, 1 1/4-mile fixture for older horses.

Diversify, the lone New York-bred in the field, was hustled along from his outside post by Ortiz to wrest control after the opening furlong. Pressed early on by both War Story and the 53-1 Zanotti, Diversify set a rapid pace, posting a 46.18-second opening half-mile split. He ultimately disposed of Zanotti nearing the three-eighths pole, settled into the stretch with a commanding advantage, and was never seriously threatened thereafter.

The Lieutenant rallied near the inside to be second-best, two lengths in front of Discreet Lover. Hoppertunity and Tapwrit, the 3-1 co-choices, finished a disappointing fourth and fifth, respectively, while never menacing the winner at any point.

Diversify, winner of the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup here last fall, paid $14 after covering the distance in 1:59.84 over a fast track.

“When I saw 46 for the half-mile, I thought I’d be ill,” said Violette, who trains Diversify for owners Ralph and Lauren Evans. “I told Irad to be aggressive. We really thought Dr. Dorr would be the horse to press us. When Irad realized it was Zanotti and War Story, he just kind of stepped on the gas and [Diversify] took off and did it pretty comfortably.”

Violette said he believed the Suburban was even a better effort for Diversify than his Grade 1 win in the Gold Cup.

“This was his best race yet,” said Violette. “He had everything his own way in the Gold Cup. He took pressure and had much better horses behind him today.”

When asked what might be next on the agenda for Diversify, Violette said “I’d love to do the Whitney, but we’ll wait to see how he comes out of this one first before making that decision."